Ernie Els finally unhooked Ross Fisher from the top of a busy Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard to go two shots clear at the end of the third round.

The South African continued his bid for an unprecedented fourth title at the Emirates Golf Club with a four-under-par 68 but was being hotly pursued by defending champion Tiger Woods.

The world number one started slowly on the front nine, making two birdies while dropping a shot on the par-four eighth. But he carded two successive birdies on the 10th and 11th before finishing strongly with another two birdies on the 17th and 18th.

Els, meanwhile, shot a bogey on the first before recovering to produce birdies on the next two holes.

He dropped another shot on the seventh to make par after nine holes but he enjoyed a good run coming home with four birdies, including two in succession from the 17th, for a four-under-par 68.

It finally ended Fisher's grip on the top spot after the 26-year-old could only managed a one-under-par 71.

His previous two rounds have seen him grab a clutch of birdies but he shot just three today alongside two bogeys and is 15 under overall.

He was joined by Henrik Stenson after the Swede carded a three-under 69.

Like playing partners Els and Fisher, Stenson made an indifferent start on the front nine making two birdies and two bogeys. But he fared better coming home as he carded three birdies without dropping a shot.

Jyoti Randhawa moved back into contention at 15 under after carding a five-under-par 67 today. The Indian dropped just one shot and carded six birdies.

Swedish duo Peter Hanson and Niclas Fasth are 13 under with the latter carding the best round of the day, a seven-under-par 65.

Colin Montgomerie had been out earlier in the morning to complete his second round after thunder storms delayed play yesterday. But he showed no signs of fatigue as he enjoyed his best round of the tournament so far to move to 10 under.

The Scot made a steady start on his outward nine, carding two birdies and a bogey but he improved coming home to make four birdies without dropping a shot.

Darren Clarke and Paul Casey were also 10 under after they both carded rounds of 68, Graeme McDowell is one shot back after a 73.

Paul McGinley is seven under for the tournament after a one-under-par 71. Amateur Rory McIlroy is also on that mark after an identical round of 71.